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Field Trips

When planning a field trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, please notify the park’s Education Outreach Coordinator well in advance of your visit. The park may be able to offer a ranger-led activity or at least meet with your group for a talk.

Begin your visit at the Headquarters Visitor Center at Pine Springs, located on U.S. Highway 62/180, 110 miles east of El Paso, Texas or 56 miles southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. The visitor center has interesting exhibits on the park’s natural and cultural history, a 12-minute orientation slide program, a touch screen "electronic ranger", and a variety of hand-outs and brochures. Area information and maps are available here as well. For groups with limited time to spend at the visitor center, there is a "scavenger hunt" activity sheet for students to work through that teaches students about the park's flora, fauna, and geology. If you have more time, you may want your students participate in the Junior Ranger program. Just outside the door is a short .75 mile round trip nature trail that leads to the ruins of the Pinery, a station on the Butterfield Overland Mail stage route.

Entrance Fees and Fee Waivers:
Entrance fees can be waived for educational groups whose proposed visit relates directly to resources found only in the park. Groups must provide documentation of educational status on official letterhead, and a written explanation of what the purpose entails. Download and complete the Fee Waiver Form and fax with all supporting documentation to: 915-828-3269.

If the purpose of the visit is recreational, there is a $5.00 per person entrance fee for individuals 16 and over.

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park

The McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail, which begins at the contact station, is a .09 mile loop, with interpretive signs along the way. This short trail offers students a hands-on opportunity to study fossil and read about Permian Age geology or learn about native Chihuahuan desert plants.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Geology groups may want to hike up the Permian Reef Geology Trail. This strenuous, 8.4 mile round-trip hike has 2,000' of elevation gain and generally takes 6-8 hours. The trail has outstanding views of McKittrick Canyon and is an interesting cross section of the Permian Reef.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

The hike to Pratt Cabin is 4.8 miles round-trip and generally takes 3 to 4 hours. There are picnic tables near and at the cabin, but there are no restrooms in the canyon. Beyond Pratt Cabin, the hike to the Grotto is another mile. There are stone picnic tables at the Grotto.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

The Frijole Ranch History Museum is located 1½ miles from the Headquarters Visitor Center. Here you will find several displays that focus on the history of the Guadalupe Mountains and the trailhead to the Smith Springs Trail.